In space, no one can hear you scream. In the movies, it’s a different story.
The chilling sci-fi horror franchise “Alien” recently returned with the work “Alien: Romulus” featuring a new team of young space explorers. Unfortunately for them, there are also “xenomorphs” on board, as seen in the trailers and other previews released.
However, if “Alien: Romulus” is your first entry into the franchise, you might feel a little lost in space.
When in the timeline does “Romulus” take place? Does iconic heroine Ripley return? And why do these aliens keep popping out of people’s chests? Here’s everything you need to know about the “Alien” movies before you watch the latest film released.
What are xenomorphs?
The sharp-toothed villains are some of the scariest monsters ever put to screen. In addition to their extraterrestrial strength, height, and cunning, they have acidic blood that eats away at spaceships. But really, they just want to populate space by stuffing their embryos inside human bodies. Most who get in their way meet a swift end.
Eventually, a terrifying spider-like monster will hatch from an egg and latch onto a host’s face, forcing an embryo down its reluctant throat.
A poor host meets his end when the tiny, toothy xenomorph bursts from his body, claiming his life.
Who are we rooting for?
The most memorable protagonist of the series is Ellen Ripley, a petty officer in the space crew played by actress Sigourney Weaver. Over the course of four films, she is accompanied in space by a crew of scientists, soldiers and officers, although almost all of them die, usually at the hands of the xenomorphs – she is the final girl of all of them.
The crew of “Alien: Romulus” is entirely new. They’re led by Rain, played by “Priscilla’s” Cailee Spaeny, and her team of young space explorers. They’re on an unauthorized mission to a deserted space station, looking to steal fuel to escape a desolate future. Not as desolate as dying at the hands of a xenomorph, but they don’t know that when we meet them.
There are also several androids in the “Alien” films, sometimes disguised as human members of the space crew. Some appear benevolent, like the new android character Andy in “Alien: Romulus,” who acts like a brother to Rain. Others serve to further the cause of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, as was the case with Ash, the science officer in the first film who was ordered to bring the alien back to Earth for study — and leave his fellow crew members to die.
Androids — who prefer to be called “artificial people” in the world of “Alien” — have met violent ends in the films, losing their heads (or entire halves of their synthetic bodies) and spitting out milky white fluid instead of blood. Good luck, Andy!
What are the other “Alien” movies?
With “Romulus,” there are now seven official “Alien” films. Four of them feature Ripley — the 1979 original; the James Cameron-directed sequel “Aliens” in 1986; David Fincher’s “Alien 3” in 1992; and Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “Alien Resurrection” in 1997. (The latter is widely considered the worst of the series, bringing back Ripley as a supercharged clone after she sacrificed herself at the end of “Alien 3.”)
There are also two prequels to the “Alien” films, both directed by original director Ridley Scott: 2012’s “Prometheus” and 2017’s “Alien: Covenant.” These films feature perhaps the most evil android in the series, David, an unassuming blond servant obsessed with creating a “perfect” life form… like an alien that looks suspiciously like a xenomorph.
Where does ‘Alien: Romulus’ fit into the series’ timeline?
“Romulus” is set between the first two “Alien” films, which take place more than 50 years apart.
Although the crews of “Alien” and “Romulus” are unrelated, the events of “Alien” may have something to do with “Romulus.”
See the chronological order for the “Alien” films.
What about those ‘Alien vs. Predator’ movies?
These aren’t really considered canon to the “Alien” universe. The crossover films don’t fit neatly into either franchise, though they’re fun for fans eager to see the titular villains face off against each other. In the second “AVP” film, they even hybridize to form the “Predalien.”
This content was originally published in “Alien”: everything you need to know about the franchise on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
